Marriage Licence

Please note that we are currently offering marriage licences by appointment only. To request an appointment, please e-mail licences@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Marriage licence applications can be processed at the Haldimand County Administration Building. Marriage licences may be obtained between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The marriage licence application must be completed and signed by both applicants; however, only one party needs to present the completed application form. A marriage licence can only be issued to the applicant and/or joint applicant. Identification is required for both parties, regardless whether both parties attend the office.

Marriage Licence Application

For information about wedding ceremonies, please see Civil Marriage Ceremonies.

Identification

First piece of Original Identification must be:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Current Passport

Second Piece of Original Identification must be photo ID:

  • Driver’s Licence
  • Current Passport (providing it is not used as the first piece of identification)
  • Canadian Citizenship or Immigration Record of Landing

In some instances, a Birth Certificate must be presented in order to determine legal last name. Please read the information below regarding legal name.

Legal Name

The marriage licence application must show your “last legal name before this marriage”. To determine the legal name of a woman who has been previously divorced, the following rules are applicable:

Married before April 1, 1987 – Assumed husband’s surname and intends for this to be a change in her legal identity, then the married name is her legal name.

Married on or after April 1, 1987 – A name assumed on or after April 1, 1987 can only be an alias unless an application was made for a name change. The legal name would then be the name on the change of name certificate or birth certificate. In all other instances, the legal name is the name shown on the birth certificate unless a change of name certificate is provided.

Age Requirements

Both partners must be 18 years of age or older. If you are younger than 18 and older than 16, you may marry in Ontario with parental consent. If you are younger than 16, you may not marry in the province of Ontario.

Marriage after Divorce

Inside of Canada – the original court certified true copy of the Decree Absolute or Certificate of Divorce must be provided.

Outside of Canada – an applicant whose former marriage was dissolved or annulled in a jurisdiction other than Canada must obtain authorization from the Office of the Registrar General before a marriage licence may be issued.

Interpreters

If an interpreter is required, it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide an interpreter and identification will be required for that individual.

Fee

Please refer to our User Fee By-law (Schedule A – Corporate Administration) for the current fee.

Expiry Date

A marriage licence is valid for use anywhere in Ontario for a period of three (3) months from the date of issue.